Communiqué from the Workers of the Brukman Factory, Buenos Aires,
Argentina

We Demand: Municipalize the Brukman Factory under Workers Control!

[This communiqué
from Argentine workers in a Buenos Aires factory was forwarded to Labor
Standard from a student antiwar group in
Canada. It is likely that workers in other industries are making similar moves.
(We have left the rough translation largely unedited.)

[Our correspondent in Canada rightly comments that the movement in
Argentina is becoming a model of revolutionary response to the “structural
adjustment programs” imposed by the International Monetary Fund. (These
“SAP’s” bring belt-tightening austerity for the workers, while the bosses,
politicians, and international creditors skim off whatever economic surplus they
can.)

[The communiqué refers to “neighborhood assemblies.” BBC News
reported on February 3 that such assemblies all over the enormous metropolitan
area of Buenos Aires are coordinating mass marches to the center of the city,
demanding “Out, out, all politicians out.”

“Small neighbourhood assemblies
gathered in streets across the capital and then marched beneath banners to the
city center,” the BBC reported.

“There, a crowd grew outside the
presidential palace, chanting ‘out, out, all the politicians out’ and
‘give us our money.’

“Protesters are demanding free access
to their bank accounts and the resignation of the government.”

Thousands march almost daily in protest

On December 18, 2001, the employers’ association of Brukman (CEBEX)
left the factory, leaving the goods, machinery, and all the debts unpaid. As if
this were not enough, they have owed us workers 4 months of wages, Christmas
bonuses, vacation pay, and family wages for 5 years. That is why we took over
the factory, so we can operate it, under our control, and we are beginning a
STRIKE FUND, to guarantee that the struggle does not get broken by hunger.

All these steps gave us power to defend until the last consequences the source
of our work with which we maintain our 120 families, in spite of the treason of
our union. We believe that this must be the answer of all workers to each
company that closes, dismisses, or suspends comrades.

Now we are going to have to look Justice in the face. We must not let them close
this factory. We are fighting for a subsidy to cover costs until we can
completely MUNICIPALIZE UNDER WORKERS CONTROL.

We need solidarity among the working class mass organizations, the unions in the
struggle, the centers of combative students, the organizations of unemployed
people, political and neighborhood parties that fight with the cacerolazos [and]
in the [neighborhood] assemblies, and of youth.

LET US FIGHT TOGETHER.

We demand workers control of all factories that close down, fire workers, or lay
off workers.

NO MORE WORTHLESS CONTRACTS!

YES TO DIGINIFIED AND GENUINE WORK!

NOT ONE MORE UNEMPLOYED PERSON!

MARCH MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY TO THE GOVERNMENT CENTER OF THE CITY OF BUENOS AIRES